Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

With a degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Athens, Greece, Stathis Topouzoglou founded Aegean Energy SA in 2007 after acquiring Regal Petroleum’s Eurotech Services SA. After expanding energy sites throughout the northern Aegean Sea, the company changed its name to Energean Oil & Gas in 2010. Energean continued to steadily expand its hold on the energy exploration and production industry throughout the Mediterranean region, one of the most abundant natural gas regions in the world.

In 2011, Nobel Energy discovered the Tanin oil field about 74 miles off the coast of Israel. In 2013, they discovered the adjacent Karish oil field. Together, the two oil fields hold an estimated 2-3 trillion cubic feet of gas. In 2016, Energean purchased 100% of the Tanin and Karish oil fields. By 2018, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Today, the company is worth an estimated $1.42 billion.

Like all modern offshore energy companies, Energean has begun utilizing drone technology to optimize inspection operations. Constant inspection of underwater energy infrastructure is vital to ensure the safe collection of resources. In the past, companies employed dive teams to periodically inspect such infrastructure. This included rigs, what amounts to miles and miles of piping, and acres of the seafloor. Using dive teams for inspections is not only time-consuming and costly but also very dangerous.

This is why submersible drones, otherwise known as ROVs, have become the go-to tool for energy companies. The cost of these drones varies based on the tasks required; however, their benefits far outweigh their price. Depending on the type of drone, some can stay underwater for months at a time. They have an underwater storage/charging base that can relay data back to a control center. The drones can be remotely operated or even programmed to autonomously complete tasks. The cameras on these drones can provide far more detailed images of sites in need of inspection than a dive team could obtain. Some drones can even complete minor repairs.

In June 2024, Energean was conducting a routine underwater drone inspection off the coast of Israel. The drone was tasked with locating possible new gas pockets. While the drone did not locate gas, it did find a rare treasure that was immediately reported to Israeli authorities. The drone’s camera captured what appeared to be a “large pile of jugs heaped on the seafloor,” said Dr. Karnit Bahartan, Energean’s top environmental official. The jugs were resting 1.1 miles below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, 55 miles off the coast of Israel. Energean sent the drone footage to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) for further investigation.

The IAA used a drone to survey the area and found a collection of amphorae scattered on the sea floor. Amphorae are large, two-handled jars with a narrow neck that were used to store items like oil or wine in ancient times. The IAA began to retrieve some of the amphorae, many of which were remarkably well-preserved, and soon discovered the remains of a shipping vessel estimated to be 3,300 years old.

Ancient discoveries are so common throughout Israel that whenever a construction project is underway, the IAA must be involved to ensure anything found is properly addressed. However, the drone’s discovery of the sunken ship was extremely rare, according to the head of the IAA’s marine department, Jacob Sharvit. The vessel, which measures 39-45 feet, was found in an area far from where archaeologists believed Bronze Age mariners would travel. “The academic assumption until now was that trade in that time was executed by safely flitting from port to port, hugging the coastline within eye contact,” Jacob explained. “The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner abilities.”

With the help of Energean, the IAA had the drone resources to gather as much data on the sunken ship as possible. “The ship is preserved at such a great depth that time has frozen since the moment of disaster,” Jacob remarked in awe. This extraordinary discovery not only enriches our understanding of ancient maritime trade but also underscores the vital role that modern technology plays in uncovering historical treasures. As Energean and the IAA continue their collaboration, the insights gained from this sunken vessel will likely reshape historical narratives and provide valuable information about ancient seafaring practices. This find serves as a testament to the innovative ways in which technology can bridge the past and present, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who navigated the Mediterranean centuries ago.

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